There seems to be good reason for the belief that among the diplomatists
assembled at the Congress of Berlin there was some informal discussion of the Tripoli
question. Lord Salisbury, according to De Launay, one of the Italian representatives,
intimated that Italy might look forward to expansion in Tripoli or Tunis.

After the French acquisition of Tunis in 1881 Italian aspirations in
regard to Tripoli were generally recognized and even encouraged by the powers. In an
exchange of views between Lord Salisbury and Crispi in 1890, the former, according to the
report of Catalini, Italian Chargé d'Affaires at London, declared himself convinced that
on the day when the status quo in the Mediterranean should suffer any alteration the
occupation of Tripoli by Italy would become an absolute necessity. At the same time he
advised Italy to wait.

In 1890 Crispi endeavored to get from the great powers permission for
Italy to take possession of Tripoli. France was rather noncommittal. Germany,
Austria-Hungary, and England thought that Italy had strong claims upon Tripoli and
expressed their willingness to see Italy in control of it, but advised her to wait.

Differences of opinion among Italian statesmen, in conjunction with the
high cost and small success of Italian colonial enterprises in the Red Sea area, account
for the failure of Italy to take any definite steps for obtaining control over Tripoli
until 1900.

2. FRANCO-ITALIAN CONVENTION OF 1902.

In 1900 Italy entered into a secret convention with France covering
their respective interests in North Africa. This convention was not ratified until 1902.
Though the text of the agreement was not published, the general nature of the arrangement
was made public by M. Delcassé in an interview in an Italian newspaper. Italy agreed that
France should have a free hand as regards Morocco, receiving for herself from France a
similar assurance as regards Tripoli.

3. PACIFIC PENETRANON.

From about the time of this agreement and doubtless largely in
consequence of it, Italy began to push steadily the process of pacific penetration in
Tripoli. The only steamships running regularly to Tripoli were Italian; the Banco di Roma
maintained an agency in Tripoli and exerted a great influence. A considerable school
system, subsidized by the Italian Government, was established. Railroads were projected.
Tripoli was enabled to enjoy the advantages of the Italian parcel post system. As a result
of these Italian activities "except for its political status, Tripoli was in 1908
practically Italian province."

4. THE TURKISH REVOLUTION (1908) AND TRIPOLI.

The Turkish Revolution of July, 1908, by bringing the You Turks into
control at Constantinople, threatened to change this situation radically. Hitherto the
process of taking over control of Tripoli on the part of the Italians had encountered
little opposition from the Turkish officials. Now all that was changed. The officials sent
out to Tripoli, evidently under instruction, vigorously resist the efforts of Italians
along the lines of pacific penetration. A series of "incidents" occurred which
led to decisive action by Italy in the fall of 1911.

5. THE ITALIAN ULTIMATUM.

A lively agitation in the Italian press during the early days September,
1911, heralded the action taken by the Italian Government on the 27th of that month. In a
short incisive note the Italian Government asserted the absolute necessity for putting an
end to disorder prevailing in Tripoli and the right of that region to be admitted to the
benefits of the same progress enjoyed by other parts of North Africa. The Turkish
Government was charged with the constant manifestation of hostility toward the legitimate
activity of Italy in Tripoli. Owing to the recent arrival there of military transports,
the Italian Government announced that it had decided to prosecute the occupation of
Tripoli. Twenty-four hours we allowed for a reply, but the Italian note clearly stated
that no other solution than Italian occupation would be acceptable. The ultimatum was
rejected by Turkey (September 28) and war began. The decision of Italy to delay no longer
the long-foreshadowed taking of Tripoli appears to have been closely connected with the
Morocco crisis of 1911.

Source: Anderson, Frank Maloy and Amos Shartle Hershey, Handbook
for the Diplomatic History of Europe, Asia, and Africa 1870-1914. Prepared for the
National Board for Historical Service. Government Printing Office, Washington, 1918.